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 Theirs is the ultimate musical marriage, a partnership that, once formed, re-etched the very landscape of not just Jamaican music, but the entire world's. Their rhythms have been the driving force behind innumerable songs - together they've played on approximately 200.000 tracks. Their first Polish show will take place Ostroda Reggae Festival on 13th August 2011. They will perform with Junior Reid, the vocalist who also participated in one of the most crucial reggae bands ever - Black Uhuru.
As a production team, the pair has been the equivalent of a creative storm, the cutting edge of modern dub, ragga, and dancehall.
They worked with all important reggae artists: Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, Sean Paul, etc. They also worked with major stars like Grace Jones, KRS-One, Herbie Hancock, Bob Dylan, No Doubt, Spearhead, Matisyahu, The Fugees, Sinéad O'Connor or The Rolling Stones.
Dunbar and Shakespeare linked in 1975, but by then they'd already become established figures on the Jamaican scene. Lowell Charles Dunbar was nicknamed Sly for his adoration of Sly Stone. For a while he was a member of the RHT Invincibles, a group that included such talents as Lloyd Parks or Ansell Collins. Dunbar continued with his outside interests, joining Skin, Flesh & Bones, a group led by Al Brown that boasted the drummer's old compatriot Lloyd Parks. Shakespeare was also making a name for himself. By the early '70s he was a member of producer Bunny Lee's house band the Aggrovators.
Inevitably, the two youths had crossed paths during this period - both were born and bred in Kingston and were only a year apart in age (Dunbar is the elder). Over time, both had worked with virtually all the major (and minor) artists on the island. The duo then, oddly enough, was also asked to produce the established French singer Serge Gainsbourg's 1975 album “Aux Armes et Cætera”. It was a bizarre pairing for all concerned, but the sessions went so well that the duo not only produced the singer's next album, they also agreed to accompany him on his French tour.
Having worked ceaselessly over the last couple of years, Sly & Robbie had carefully put aside every penny they could. Now they finally had enough to open their own label, Taxi.
Their most crucial work was in conjunction with Black Uhuru.
This partnership reached an epiphany on 1982's Chill Out, the album that rocketed the Riddim Twins to international renown and took them on a tour opening for the Rolling Stones as part of Black Uhuru's backing band.
After 30 years together, they still tour and record relentlessly. During the Summer of 2005, they toured Europe and the UK with Bunny Rugs, lead singer for Third World. During the Fall of 2005 they were on the road with Sinéad O'Connor. They also produced tracks for former Beatle Paul McCartney and Britney Spears.
In 2009, “Movin' On”, the new album by Bitty McLean, which they produced with Bitty came out and was immediately acclaimed as the best Reggae album of the year.
In 1999 Sly & Robbie received Grammy Award for their „Friends” album. They were also nominatem to Grammy 4 times.
Their links with Poland so far was just a participation in the recording session of Rastasize project in 2008.
Finally the Polish audience will be able to see them live.
Links:
www.myspace.com/slyandrobbie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_and_Robbie
videos:
Sly & Robbie playing Drum & Bass in Black Uhuru concert
Sly and Robbie TAXI Gang Live
Sly And Robbie with Dennis Brown live
Black Uhuru with Sly & Robbie: Dubbin' It Live - 'Guess Who's Comming to Dinner'
Sly & Robbie – “Dance Hall” clip
JUNIOR REID
(Jamaica)
Junior Reid is a worldwide Reggae/Dancehall legend. He became popular through his work for Black Uhuru and many artists not related to reggae like British duo Coldcut or Wu Tang Clan. He has built his fame for more than 20 years, having almost 20 solo albums on his account. He is coming to Poland second time, now as a singer for Sly & Robbie.
Links:
www.myspace.com/juniorreid
video:
"One Blood” live RDF Bielawa 2008
Junior Reid & Black Uhuru “Original Foreign Mind” live
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